waring



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Aug. 14, 1928.

W. B. WARING AMSEMENT APPARATUS Filed Feb. l2, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 4gvanfoz,

Aug, 14, 1928. 1,680,350

w. B. wARlNG AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed Feb.7 12. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3Aug. 14, 1928.

vv.v B. wARlNG AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed Feb. 12, 1927 Aug. 14, 1928.

W. B. WARING AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed Feb. 12, 1927 5 sheets-sheet 5 lIINII..

Patented Aug. 14, 1928.l

PATENr OFFICE.

. WILLIAM B. WARNG, OF BVRONX, NEW YORK.

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

Application led February 12, 192'?. kSerial No. 167,758.

invention relates generally to amuse-` ment apparatus, and ymoreparticularly to the type such as is used in amusement parks, resorts,and like places, wherein a number of players participate.

The primary object-of the invention resides the provision of anamusement device which is yboth new in the line of attraction, and whichemployscertain naturalor physics principles which are radi-cally new inapparatus of this character'.

lAnother object resides in so constructing my improved device as toutilize this new principle in the form of a race, wherein a` lseriesofhorizontally disposed shafts, rotated atsimilar speeds, are eachprovide-d with a loose collar or disk having a cent-ral opening oflarger diameter than that of said shafts, which permitsy the inertiafrom rotation to cause various changes of planeof the respective diskswhich eiiects creeping ormovement thereofin a forward ordreversedirection along the shafts at varied speeds in ratio with the degree orangle of detiection of the 'disks in eitherdirection, which results inat least vone disk traversing a prescribed course in advance 4of theremainder `of disks, `consequently winning the raceand thereby entitlingan award to the particular participant to which said individual disk wasassigned. u f o Another object resides in so constructing the devicethat the same cannotbe frzurdrb lently manipulated by the operator incharge of the race in an endeavor tor favor any particular participant,and' which object is augmented by the open construction wherein theparts are visible to participants atall times,v` and eliminates thepossibility of such tampering. f f

A further `object resides in theprovision of an entirely automaticamusement device wherein it is only necessary -to press a single button,andthemechanism operates Vto accomplish the running of the race, the'an-y nunciating'of the winner, and the return of parts to anormal idleposition, in readiness for another operation; thus obviating thenecessityV of separate manual controls for these various phases ofoperation. i

Still further objects reside in simplicity of construction coincidentwith the manifold operations effected, simplicity of manipula lmesheswith the next tion, positive action, and which is inexpensive ofmanufacture and highly amusing and eiiicient for the `purposes intended.

With these and other objects in View, the invention resides in certainnovel construc`- tion, and combination and arrangements of parts, theessential features of which are hereinafter fully described., areparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which Figure lis a top plan view of myimproved amusement apparatus;

Figure 2 is a vertical central longitudinal sectional view therethrough,taken' on the line 2`2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 ofFig. 2;

Figure t is a rear elevation;

Figures 5, 6, and 7 arel detail views certainy of the electrical units,and

Figure 8 is a wiring diagram'illustrating the `connection of the variouselectrical units with the source of electrical energy;

Figure 9y is a fragmentary vertical sectional view Vof a modifieddriving means.

Referring more particulariyto the drawings, the-reference charactcr'l()designates a base `from which rise front g and rear uprights 11: and l2respectively, both of which support a seriesV` of bearing members 13provided with cap bearings 14 for a pluralityv of rotatable shafts 15'.Said shafts are inciterably tubular for lightness and rigidity, and thesame are provided at their rear extrem`- ities with fixed gears "1G,each of which adjacent gear to establish" a train.

The centralgear of said train meshes with 4an underlying pinion 17 onthe armature shaft ofanelectric motor 1.8 which in turn imparts rotationtotherespective gears 16 to -rotate the shafts 15. Loosely mounted oneach of said shafts a` washer or disk 19 which is provided with acentral opening 20 of larger diameter than the diameter of said shaft,for permitting inertia from rotation to cause various changes of planeof the respective disks which in `turnV effects creeping or movementthereof in a forward or reverse direction along said shafts atvariedspeeds in ratio with the angle or degree of their deflection in eitherdirection.

rtf

From the description thus farit will be seen that during the running ofthe motor 18, rotation Will be imparted to the shafts 15 through themedium of the gears 1G and 17, to impart a. free rotation of the disksand cause the same to creep or move longitudinally along the shafts byreason of the action previously set forth. I Y

It is the object of the present device to utilize this action in theform of a. race by positioning the disks in a starting position adjacenttheh front ends of the shafts in transverse alignment, and thenoperating the motor to cause the disks 'to ,traverse the shafts untilthey abut a i'earcontact element 21 which reverses their direction oflongitudinal movement along said shafts and simull taneously sets acircuit inV condition, as hereinafter set forth, to annunciate the firstdisk to arrive at the front end of the shaft, When thesamc' actuat'es asecond contact element 22 at the frontend of said shafts. In actual use`it has been found that at least one disk of the series Will move to theback end of the shaft, set the circuit and then nieve to the front end,completing` said circuit to operate aiiiiunciator 25 in a period ofappro-Ximately one-half minute, which renders the device highlypracticable for use iii amusement paiks'and resorts, Where it'isimperative to run off the races rapidly to accommodate large numbers ofparticipants.

The vdisks'l) are provided with suitable indicia ora numeral asdesignated at A, corf responding to a similar numeral indicated by B ona counter 23 positioned at the front of an amusement stand ork booth 24in which myimproved device may be mounted, and persons participating inthe race stand beforesaid counter 23 and placeA a marker on the numeraldirectly in front of them, Which designates the disk they choose to Winthe race in the manner set forth.

The annunciators 25 are electrically connected with the respectivecontact elements 21 and 22 in suchv a manner that should any of tliedisks move from a starting position to the kfront contact elemeiit-22before tripping the rear Contact 21, the `annunciator vwill notoperate,.uiitil such disks have iirst tripped said rear element 21 toset a circuit, in a manner hereinafter setrfo-rtli, after which saidlfront contact element 22 is in condition-to effect the operation oftheannuneiators 25.

Simultaneous to the operation or dropping of any of the annunciators 25,the electrical circuitto the motor 18 is opened to cause the-same tostop at the Vcompletion of the race. As certain of the disks 19 Will belettrin various positions along their respecing position simultaneous tothe opening of said motor circuit. Such automatic disk- Worm shaft 30torotate same during run-Vv ning Vof said auxiliary motor 26. Atransvei'se travelling frame 31 normally rests adjacent the rear seriesof bearing members 13 and said frame isprovidedwvith a threaded bore 32for coaction With the Worin shaft 30 which causes movement of said frametherealongin a forward or reverse direction in a manner also describedhereinafter. The transverse` frame 31 is provided Withupright U shapedforkinembers 33 which are adapted to engage the disks 1,9 to niove sainealong their respective shafts to a starting position When said framel ismoved from its normal rear position to the Vfront by means of the motorand ivorin sliaftfiust described. When said transverse frame has moved asufficient distance toward the front to place the disks in a startingposition, the auxiliary motor is cut off, whereupon the same will startagain in a reverse direction after havivill be appreciated thisautomatic action will return thefraine to its normal idle position outof the path of movement of the disks 19, in a manner to be explained.

The transverse frame rides on a pair of guide rails 34 supported by theouter end pairs of .bearing member 13. Said guide rails serve toy holdthe frame in alignment during its movement along the ivorm shaft 30 asset forth.

`The various automatic means hereinbefore refeiredto are controlled andoperated in the. manner set forth in the following description and withparticular reference to the Wiring diagram illustrated in Figure 8 Y ofthe drawings.

A single spring contact pushbutton 35 needronly be touched once 'when itis desired to start a racefas all the operations previously mentionedare thence cai'i'ied'out auton'iatically and the device shuts itself offupon the completion of such operations. The apparatus is then incondi-tion for another race, whereupon it is merely necessary, whendesired, to push said button-35 to effect the running'of va succeedingrace. A

vvire .36 comprises one half vof the pushbiitton circuit 37 and saidWire is connected to o ne terminal of the motor 18 and from the otherterminal thereof, passes through the Contact arm 38 of arYsoleiioid-controlled switch 39 to negative or ininils side of abattery or other suitable source of electrical energy 4() by way of aWire 41. A Vivire 42 constituting the other half of the circuit v37,passes through the solenoid lnof. a tandem solenoidsivitch 46, Wherefromsaid Wire Lvi2 passes to a contact `4:7 which effects a connec- Yingreached a Vsubstantially full stop. As

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ile

be appreciated, energize-is the ma;

battery 4() through a .main control switchy 51. When this circuit 37 isclosed, the solenoid 45 is momentarilyenergized to move the conductorbridge 4S away from lthe con tacts 47, and 47 to break the circuitthrough said solenoid y 45. Said movement of the switch 46simultaneously moves a second bridge 52 into engagement with thecontacts liQaIld 53 to closethe circuit to the motor 18 and the sameoperates the shafts 15 and disks 19 in the manner set it'orth to etl'ectthe run ning ol" the race. i y

`Said motor 1S will Vcontinue tojrun until one of the disks 19 lirstsets the contact elements 21 and 22 in the following manner. These.contact elements comprise a fibre or insulating disk5f-ll`ixedly mountedupon the cap bearings 14 andprovided with centralV openings 55sufficiently larger than theshafts 15 to permit the shafts to freelypass there-l through. Outwardly sprung hA 'if-spring strips 56 areixedly secured at their outer ends adjacentithe peripheries of saiddisks 54.-, while the inner, outwardly projecting ends oii said hairsprings 56 are slightlyspaccd from contact points 57 which theyareadapted to engage when one ot the slidingl disks 19' abuts saidsprings. `These spring contacts are radially arranged on the inner faces'of the front and rear sericsof disks in such manner that the travellingdisks 19 will cngage atleast oneset, spring 56 and contactv 57,`irrespective ofthe angle at which said moving disk strikes the springs.`When this occurs against the rear contacti-ilement 21 it closes acircuit 58 ,con'iposed oi main lead wires59 and 60, the former .oit'which passes through the coil of an electroinaget 61 and thence to theplus side of the battery 4t@ via the wire 50. The other lead oft thecircuit 58,.passes,.byway of wire162. contact arm 38 and wire 41, to theminusjsidc ot said batte to complete the circuit which. as will'ietwliereupon'one end el an insulated arm 6B is rocked about its pivot64s to cause the other lend thereof to bridge coiitacts 65 and 65" bymeans of a contact strip 66 carried thereI- by, as indicated in dottedlines in said Figure 8 of the drawings. f

.Then said vcontact Vstrip 66 bridgessaid contacts 65 and 65, acircuit67 is in condition to be closed by contact `of one oit the disks19 with the contact element 22, which is identical in construction tothe element 21 previously described and like reference characters denotecorresponding partsthrough out the series of units illustratedandfdescribed. Y Y

When the4 first travelling disk il) `forces one of the strips 56 of saidcontact element 22 into engagement with any of its various contacts57,the circuit 67 is closed to accomplish the functions disclosed intheiollowing.

VA wire 68 comprises one halt of said'cin cuit and is normallyincomplete due to the gap between said contacts 65 and 65, and

i said wire 68 passes through a magnet 69, contact points 70 and 71,bridged by a conductf ing strip 72, and thence through wires 73, 74, 62,contact arm 38 and wire 41 to then'iinus side of the battery 40. Theother wire of said circuit 67, connects, through wires 76, 59, and `50,to plus side of the battery via the main control switch 51.

lVhen such circuit v67 closed by one oi" the disks 19, the magnet 6D isenergized to d aw the Varmature 77 into engagement therewith to rock aninsulated bell crank annunciator lever 78 about its pivot 79 to draw thearm SO thereof to aV vertical position to expose a numeral thereon whichcorresponds to that of the winning disk. Said magnet is energized onlymomentarily as the "same breaks its controlling circuit when thecoiiducting strip 7 2 moves away from the contacts 70 and 7l whichleaves the circuit 67 open by reason ot' the break in thewire 68.

1 The now horizont-al arnif'l of the annunciator 78 brings a vcontactbridge 82 into engagement with contacts 83 and 84. These sets ofcontacts in the various annunciators are so arranged that any one ofsaid an'-` nunciators will complete the main circuit S5 1 now tobedescribed. One wire 86 of said circuit connects, as do all of the wires86 ot the series of annunciators, with aconimon lead 87, `and whichpasses through contact 88, arm 38, contact 89, and wire 9() to onesolenoid .91 ojf the tandem solenoidswitoh 39 and thence via Wires 91',92, and 41 to the minus side of said battery 40. The other' wire 94 ofsaid circuit S5, leads from theV other Contact 84. Ato a similar commonmain lead wire which is in connection with the series of contact-s Standsaid wire is connected with a lead. 96 which completes the circuit tothe plus side of the battery 40 through wire 50 and switch 51.

AThe closing of this circuit S5, by the dropping ot any oi theannunciators 78, energizes the solenoid 910i the swil'c'h 39, to drawthe contact armBS away from the conlll) tacts and 89 to break themomentary pull p actuated the similar member 22, such winning disk isautomatically annunciated, and current supply out off to prevent furtherannunciation in the event that a second disk engages the contact elementY22 afterward; a signal is set into operation, and they main motor 18shut oii'.

Simultaneous to the energizing of the solenoid 91 to accomplish theabove functions, the contact arm 38 bridges the contacts 97 and 98 tostart the operation of the auxiliary or return-motor 26, as well asadditional functions now to be explained.

The starting of said auxiliary motor 26 is edected vby the movement ofsaid contact arm which bridges said contacts 97 .and 98 and energizesthe magnet 101. of a dual magnet 'switch 102. The electrical circuitcontrolling said switch, includes a wire 10,3 which connects withl thewire 99 of the bell circuit and v.terminates atV the Contact 97. Theother wire 104 conducts current through a Contact 105, conducting arm100 of the switch 102, and contact 107, wherefro-ni said wire104connects through wires 95, 96, 50, and switch 51 to the plus side of thebattery 40. rllhe circuit is completed, to saidA n'iagnet 101, throughcontact 98, and wires 108, 92, and 41, the latter of which effects theconnection to the minus side of said battery 40 when said contact ari 38Vbridges the contacts 97 and 98. As will be seen, this action energizessaid magnet 101 to bring the switch arin 10G into engagement with thecontacts 110 and 111 to bridge saine.

A wire 112 leads from the contact 110 to the contact A of atandem-solenoidl polarity switch 113. Another wire 114 leads from theterminal 115 of the motor 26 tothe pivot 116 of a conducting lever 117which, in the position shownin full lines inY Fig. 8, effects aconnection between said wires 112 and 114 to establish one halfv of thecircuitto said motor 2G via` said switch arm 105, Contact 111 and wires118, 96, and 50 to the plus side of the battery 40. Theconnection fromthe terminal 119 of the motor 26 to the minus side of Vthe battery iseffected through the wir 120, which, liltethe wire 114, is conneet-ed tothe pivot 121 of a similar lever 122 which connect-s.y in the full lineposition, to ar contact 13 wherefroin a wire 123 leads `to said minusside of the battery 40 via its solenoid124 is energized,or to bridge thedi ontacts A-C upon energizing of the solenoid 125 to deliver current tothe motor 26' polarity switch 113 and through the second magnet 133 ofthe dual-magnetic switch 102, i ywherefroni said wire 132 connects,through wires and 50, to the plus side of the battery 40. A second wire134 leads from the contact 130 to the contact 97, and as the contact arm38 is now lnidging the contacts 97 and 98, as shown in dotted lines,current will i'low from the minus side of the battery through wires 41,92, and 108 and connect with the wire 134, and consequently energizessolenoid 125 which draws the core 126 and contact levers 11'." and -122into respectivov engageii'ient with contacts C and A, and.simultaneously energizes the magnet 133 of theswitch 102 which movesthe arm 106 back to the full line position to open `the A wire 132 leadsfrena vcontact 131 through the solenoidv125 of the conduit 112 of themotor circuit and thus causing' said motor 26 to stop. nient oill thesolenoid which effects the bridging of the contacts A and C asillustrated in dotted lines, sets the circuit of the niotor 2G in acondition to effect reverse rotation thereof upon the bridging of thecontac'ts 110 and 111 in a manner now to be set forth. i

Said motor 26 is provided with a current conducting T-bracltet 135fixedly'secured to, and rotatable with, the armature shaft 136 of themotor, and which bracket is provided at outer extremities with eyelets137 for the pivotal connectionof conductor arms 138 normally held inengagement with Semi-circular contact segments 139 and 140 byfacon"iactile spring 141 .when the motor is idle.

their free ends, by reasonof weights 142 thereon, and thereby be'out ofengagement with the conta ct segments 139 and 140 which `latter vareslightly spaced apart as at 143` inst sutlicientrto isolatecurrenttherebetween but allow the thickness vof the arms 138 to bridgethe same vin order that an electrical. coniinui'iication may be effectedbetween said segments regardless of what position Vthe arms with.

To continue the description from the Apoint where the transverse frame31 had effected the cutting'r olf ofthe motor 26 through the 1When themotory is in motion, how? ever, saidarins 1.38 will swing outwardly at'138 may come into engagement there ick medium of its contact element 129engaging,r

when-the same has come to a substantially' dead stop from running in aforward direction, it willin'imediately startV in a reverse direction`due to the movement ofthe polarity switch 113having changed thepolai-ity and by reason of contact of the arms 138 with the segments 139and 140; it being rememberedhowever, that the arm 106 of the dualmagnetic switch 102 is still `in the full line` position away from thecontacts 110 and 111, and that the motor 26 has. therefore, not yetreceived its current to effect the reverse rotation now to be set forth.

One Wire 92 leads `from the segment 140 to the negative or minus side ofthe battery 40, while the other wire 144 connects with wire108,wherefrom current is conducted through contact 98', arm 38, contact97, wire 99 and 103` through magnet 101 of switch 102, andfpassesviacontact 105, arm 106,

contact 107 `and wires 104,95, 96 and 50 to the plus sideof the batteryto complete the electrical circuitthrough said semi-circular segments139 and 140. When said circuit is closed by the arms 38 due to stoppingof the motor 26, it will .be seen that the magnet 101 is energized andagain draws the switch arm 106 to a position to bridge the contacts 110and 111, whereupon vcurrent is again delivered `to the motor, but thesamefwill start `in a reverse direction by reason of the throwing `ofthe polarity7 switch 113 as specified.

Theobject of the governor construction of the bracket 135 and arms 138,is to assure the motor 26 coming to asubstantially full stop fromforward running, before current can be delivered to effect runningthereof in the opposite direction.` This construction,

therefore, eliminates the possibility of overheating or overloading the.motor by simultaneously changing current from forward to a reversedirection.

Assuming the motork 26 is now operating in reverse, which rotates theworm shaft 30 r in au opposite direction, it will beseen that the samewill move the transverse frame31 to theY rear to its normalidlerposition, and at the same time move the contact member v 129 awayfrom contacts 130 `and 131, breakling the various associatedcircuitsrbut which said frame 31, an automatic return, trip device 150carried thereby, is actuated to return all the working parts to a normalidle position in the following manner.

The automatic return, trip device 150, comprises insulated arms 151pivotally connected to'ears 152 provided on the frame 31. A ycrosslinkof current conducting material 153 is pivoted at its ends to vsaidarms 151, and by reason of such connection ofthe link 153 with the arms,it will be seenthat the link is free tomove transversely while the linkwillremain parallel tov the framey 31 at any position to which it may beswung, as will appear. Contact pins 154 lserve as the pivotal connectionof .the link 153to the arms `151, andsaid pins depend below the underface of the trans- Iverse frame 31 and are adapted to coact withangularly offset cams 155 mounted upon a slightly inclined platform 156.Spring .actuated ball contacts 157 and 158 are mounted within saidcams155 at one side thereof andare adapted to beengaged by the dependingpins 154 upon the Vreturn movement of the frame 31, whereas it will beseen'that said cams 1551wil1 deflect vthe pins .154 away from thecontacts 157 upon the spring actuated ball contacts 157 to the plus sideof the lbattery 40 by way of its connection through wires 95, 96, and50, and through the main control switch 51.` The other wire 161 passesthrough the solenoid 124 ofthe polarity `switch 113, and the solenoid162 of the tandem-solenoid switch 46, wherefrom said wire 161 passesthrough the second solenoid 163 of theV solenoid-controlled switch 39,and thence leads through the series magnets 164 which effect lthe returnof the'annunciators 7 9 to the `position shown. `From, saidmagnets 164,the lead 161 continues through the magnet series 165 controlling thereturn of the circuit-maker lever 63, and thence said lead 161 continuesto the minus side of the battery 40 to complete the circuit to theautomatic return device 150, viafwires 92 and 41.

Therefore it will be seen that at a point slightly in advance of thecompletion of the rearward movement ofjthe. frame 31, the device 150will Ycomplete the circuit just described, to momentarily energize andoperate all of the solenoids and magnetic devices just mentioned to thefull line posi-- tions due tothe bridging of the contacts 157 (lll and158 by the pins 154iand conducting link 153.

-As this energizing of the solenoid 163 draws the core 166 and arm 38from the dotted line position to the full line position shown, it willbe seen that during said movement, a momentary energizing of the magnet133 will be effected due to the contact arm passing over contacts 167and 168 to make the auxiliary circuit 169 tosaid magnet 133. Thismomentary energizing of said magnet V1553, returns the armY 106 of thedual magnetic switch 102'to the full line position to open the circuitvbetween the contacts 110 and 111 in order to leave the motor 26 .inanidle position until the next race, as it will.A be seen that saidmotor 26 is cut oil' by the action of the device 150 just describethbyreasonof the energizing of the solenoid 124 of the polarity switch 113which throws theV levers 117 and 122 to the full line position to changethe motor current from the wires 170 and 112, through the wires 112 and123, but as the magnet 133 is simultaneously energized to open the gapbetween the wires 112 and 118 by reason of the arm 106 having moved awayfrom the contacts 110 and 111, it will be appreciated that the motor 26will consequently remain idle until another race or operation of theentire mechanism is effected. l i

The audible signal or bell 100 is also simultaneously cut olf uponoperation of the device 150,-by reason of the contact arm 38 opening thecircuit 99 thereof'by moving out of bridging engagement with thecontacts 97 and. 98. Therefore it will be seen that the bell ,100 ringsfromrthe moment a raceis won, until thel motor 26 and cross frame havemoved the disks to a. starting position, andl then reversed and returnedto their normal positions, whereupon ringingof said hell discontinues byreason of mechanism and operations set forth, after having rung a periodo fapproximately twenty torthirty seconds; which, period has been foundmost desirable in which toV accomplish the full forward and reversemovements of the frame 31, kto return the disks 19 to Aa startingposition without throwing the same to such position at ahigh speed, Y

As previously set forth, the operation of the automatic-return vdevice150, energizes the solenoid 162 of the tandem solenoid switch 46 andwhich action. moves the conh tact bridge 52 back to the positionillustrated Ain Figure Sto bridge the contacts l.t7 and 47 and renderthe solenoid in condition to be again energizedby the touching of thebut- 'con 35, whereupon the entire apparatus will again operate in themannerset forth.

lt will be seen that when necessary, magnets and solenoids are so wiredas to automatically break -their Arespective cont-rolling As the motorcutoff by the return of the transverse franieactuating the device 150 inthe manner described, it will be seen that the sii'nultaneorusenergizing of the solenoid 124i` of the polarity switch, throws the sameto a` position to leave the motor circuit in a condition to operate saidmotor 26 in a lforward direction, in its turn, during the running of asucceeding race or operation. I

As it is desired to normally conceal the numerals on the wide frontfaces of the an-` nunciator arms 8O until a. race has been won, 1provide shields 172 which are preferably black on their front faces anddepend from pivots 173 to norn'ially conceal said numerals on theannunciator arms 80, The pivots 173 of said shields 172 are in closeproximity t0 the upper extremities of the levers 8() when the same arein the position illustrated in .Figure 8; Therefore it will beappreciated that when one ofthe magnets 69 has been energized, the leverwill move to a vertical position, consequently swinging the shield 172from a depending position to the horizontal position illustrated inFigure 6, which exposes the numeral on the lever 80 corresponding to thewinning' disk and tothe nun'ieral on the counter 23, thereby designatingtie winner of the race.

From tore foregoing description it is be# lieved to be clear yunderstood that I have provided an amusement apparatus whichaccomplishes all of the desired functions automatically, and whichutilizes new principles in an etlicient `manner for the affording of amarked degree of amusement to both spectators and participants.

Although l have described what I deem the preferred einbodin'ientof myinvention which employs a motive powencommon to all the rotatableshafts, it may be found desir-able in some instances to var v thedriving meansto allow each individual participant 'to operate therespective shafts, and such modified form of driving means isillustrated iii l `igiiie 9 of the drawings. V

In said figure, the reference character 175 designates rotatable wheelsdisposed horizontally above the counter 23 ofthe booth 24. A knob 176 oneach of the wheels is adapted to be grasped by the 'hand of aparticipant' for imparting rotation to the wheel 17 5.' Said wheels arekeyed to vertical shafts 177 which are rotatably mounted within suitablebearings 178, and miter gears 179 keyed to lill) lll) the lower ends ofthershafts 177, mesh with similar gears 18() mounted on the front endsof horizontal shafts 181 disposed beneath the front aisle floor-boards182 of the booth. A

` bevel ejear `183` is keyed to the rear end' of each shaft 181 andmeshes with a bevel gear 184 on` the lower end of each of the verticalshafts 185. Suitable bearings 186 and 187 v rotatably support therespective shafts 181 and 185, and'said latter shafts are provided withbevel gears r188 at the top thereof Which mesh `with. similar gears `189on the front `ends of theshafts 15l previously described. rlherefore itis deemed apparent that by this construction, a participant may rotate`the partivular shaft he desires, at any speed thought necessary, in anattempt tocause the disk thereon to complete the prescribed course, byrotating the Wheel 175 which, through the medium of the gear connectionsset forth, .will rotate all of the shafts mentioned.

It might-be here stated that the push-button 35 is of the spring-returntype utilizing a stationary strip contact 190 adapted to be engaged by aspringstrip contactor 191 when the button192 is depressed, and uponrelease thereof, saidv spring-strip 191 will return to its normalposition out of contact with the other strip .190. 'lfhis type ofpushbutton is utilized in order to obviate the neressity of the operatorhaving to shut off the mechanism by additional manipulation of furthercontrols, as the mechanism automatically shuts itself off and leaves thecircuits in condition to operate again upon the touching of saidpush-buttton 35 in the manner herein set forth. p

While I have described what I deem the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is obvious that `many of the details of con struction maybe varied Without in any Way departing,r from the spirit of myinvention, and I therefore do not limit myself to the exact details ofconstruction shown, nor to anything less than the Whole of my invention,limited only by the appended claims.

I claim 1. Amusement apparatus comprising a series of horizontallyisposed rotatable shafts, means for imparting rotation thereto,rotatable members loosely carried by said shafts and slidablelongitudinally thereof, and trip members adjacent the ends of saidshafts adapted to be operated byr said rotatable slidingr memberssubstantially as, and for the purpose specified.

2. An amusement deviceV of the character described comprising, incombination, a plu rality of rotatable shafts, means for impartingrotation thereto, members loosely carried by said shafts and movablelongitudinally thereof by inertia resulting from frictional contact ofsaid disks with said rotatable shafts during rotation, and trip membersYof such disks, means adapted to be engaged by the disks, and positionedad`acent the ends of said shafts, one of said trip members adapted to beactuated `in advance ofthe other to set an electrical circuit in.condition, whereupon actuation of said latter trip member will closesaid circuit to denote which of said disks traverses a prescribed courseov -r Vsaid shafts in advance of the remainder of said disks,substantially as, and for the purpose specified.

An amusement device comprising a plurality of rotatable shafts, meansfor impartine' rotation thereto, disks loosely mounted upon said shaftsand free to more longitudinally thereof, trip members adjacent the endsofsaid shafts adapted to be actuated by said disks to designate thefirst of such disks to traverse its respective'shaft, an audible signaloperative upon the actuation of said ltrip members, disk returning meansopera- *tive simultai'ieously therewith to move the remainder of saiddisks to a position in alignment with said first disk, and means adaptedto be actuated, upon the completion ofr operation of said disk-returningmeans, for cutting;` off said audillile signal and for rendering` all ofsaid means inoperative, sub stantially as described.

Ll. Amusement' apparatus of the character described, comprisingshafts, aprime mover for rotating said shafts, disks loosely mounted. thereon andadapted to traverse saine longitudinally. means` operative by said disksto desi n'iiate which of .said dish-srespective shaft in advance of theremainder operable by .said first means for proventinal any of saidremaii disks. operating said first means, `an aut ble signal .controlledby the operation of said seeond-nicntioncd means, disk-retarninnT means'adapted to collect and return said re- `mainingg"disks to a position inalignn'ieiit with the first of said disks \vl1i chhas travtraverses itsmovement of said diskreturning means, for

rendering all of said means idle.

y 5. An amusement apparatus comprisingr front and rear supports, shaftsliournallcd Within said supports, disks loosely carried `by said shaftsand freely movable longitudinally thereof, front and rear trip members.carried by the respective supports, and adapted to be actuated by saiddisks, means for imparting rotation to said shafts for effecting saiddisk movement by forces of inertia, annunciating' means adapted to beoperated by the firstof said disks to traverse its shaft in a rearwardand forward direction, by reason of consecutive tripping of rear Vandfront trip-members, a cut-out operative upon the actuation of saidannunciating means vto prevent succeeding disks tripping said fronttrip-members, disk-rcturning means operativeupon the vcompletion ofmovementof said irst disk for returning the remaining disks to analigned position therewith, and means adapted to be actuated upon vthecompletion oi" operation of said disk-returning means, for rendering allof said means .inoperative and in condition for succeeding operations insimilar sequences, substantially as, and for the purpose VspeciM fied. y

6. In an amusement apparatus ot the chai'- acter described` thecombination oi' a plurality of rotatable shafts, disks loosely carriedby said shafts, a motor in operative connection With said slialits, apush-button in circuit with a source oil electrical energy and adaptedto cont-rol said motor, tripineinbers adiaccnt the fr ntand rear ends etsaid shafts adapted to be actuated by said disks upon movement tliereo'ilongitudinally along said shafts, anniinciating` means for designatingthel i'irst disk which has oper-` ated both rear and ironttrip-nicn'ibcrs consecutively, cut-olil means adapted to operate uponthe tripping ot' said i'iront tripsmeinber'by said lirst disk forpreventing;Y further actuation of 'the remaining annunciators, a secondinotor, disk-returning' ineans operable thereby 'for returningI theremainder ot said disks to a. position in alignment with said lirstdisk, a pole-changer operative at this liuncture to causereverseoperation of said second motor to ellect the return of saiddisk-returning means to -its normal idle position, and a throw-oil unitoperable upon the completion or' ioveinent ot said disk-ie turning moansto render all of said means and units idle and condition to re-execute`the foregoing functions in the aforesaid sequence upon eachlsucceeding` manipulation or the push-button substantially as, and forVthe purpose speciiied.

ln a dcvice'o't' the character described, the combination ot apluralityvoi rotatable ts, iront and rear supports therefor,

and adapted'tobeact-uated by longitudinal movement of said disks alongsaid shafts; an annunciator and an electro-'magnetic switch so arrangedin an lelectrical circuitivitli said iront and Vrear tup-members as todesignate the r'irst disk which has successively operated said rear and'front trip-` operable upon the substantial stopping of l sai/lauxiliary propelling agency for shitting said pole-changer to a positionto again start said agency in reverse koperation for returning saiddisk-returningv means to itsA normal idle position adjacent said rearsup ports, throw-oil means carried by said diskreturningmeans andadapted to be actuated thereby, when the saine has substantiallycompleted its movement, for cutting oil' said auxiliary propellingagency and for simultaneousljyi sett-ing said pole-clianger in conditionto operate said agency in a forward direction upon succeeding operationsof the aforesaid units, a source of electrical energy common to all orsaid units, a push-button in circuit With said electrical energy for.controlling said shait rotating means, cut-oli means operative upon saidactuation ot the throw-olf mechanism for rendering all of said units anddevices idle and setting their respective controlling circuits incondition for .re-execution of4 the foregoing functions upon succeedingmanipulations ot said push- Signed at New York in the county oi NewYork. and State ci New York.

TVVILLZMVI B. VARING.

